News: Deepavali cheer and belongings swept away by rising waters

SEPANG: Housewife V. Virmala was looking forward to the Deepavali celebrations until a flood came and swept away all her belongings.

The 45-year-old and her family of five are among 148 families still receiving temporary shelter at the Dengkil Community Hall near here yesterday after rising waters forced them out of their homes over the weekend.

“Now, I don’t have any new clothes not even RM1. What can I do for Deepavali?” lamented teary-eyed Virmala to the Prime Minister’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor during her visit to the evacuation centre.

Her husband, factory worker S. Subramaniam, 46, said he would not be able to go back to work until the mess at their home was sorted out.

“We have no choice now. Our belongings have gone with the water,” said Subramaniam, who earns RM25 at work every day. The couple has three children aged between nine and 13.

Meanwhile, as at 11.30am yesterday, the Welfare Department reported that two temporary shelters for flood victims in Dengkil were closed with 54 families being allowed to return to their homes.

Earlier, Rosmah, who is the Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti) president, handed over RM10,000 in aid for the flood evacuees.

The money was to be used for the purchase of necessities for the evacuees through Kasih, the welfare association of Selangor Barisan Nasional elected representatives’ wives.

“As for Virmala and her family, the National Security Council has indicated that it will provide a small contribution to help them as Deepavali is around the corner,” said Rosmah.